baholzer - Endoscopic Spine

23 www.baholzer.de Eventually, a beaked working sheath is placed with the beak facing the dorsal aspect of the facet. The exiting nerve root can be retracted by gently turning the working sheath alongside the pedicle, protecting the nerve with the sheath‘s beak (IMG 9). 4. SPINAL DECOMPRESSION Once the exiting nerve root is protected and the fenestration of the working sheath has been placed in the foramen facing the pedicle/SAP transition area, a series of side-cutting facet rasps with safety blunt tip, allow to widen the access to the foramen and spinal canal (IMG 10, 11). The foraminoplasty can be further expanded by use of an endoscopic Kerrison punch, which can be introduced through the central working channel of the endoscope (IMG 12, 13). IMG 9 IMG 10 X-Ray of facet rasp IMG 11 Endoscopic view facet rasp IMG 12 X-Ray of Kerrison IMG 13 Endoscopic view of Kerrison